from  http://bit.ly/5g701o

Michelle Obama’s organic garden has gotten the lion’s share of publicity, but last spring, the White House tapped Charlie Brandts to construct a beehive on the South Lawn. Brandts populated the First Bees with a multi-culti blend of “Maryland mixed-breed bees, with Russian and Caucasian genetics,” according to the City Bees blog. (We don’t know anything about bee breeds but we like how diplomatic and inclusive hosting multiple bee families sounds.)

The first honey harvest took place in  June. In September, Mrs. Obama included the White House honey along with a porcelain tea set and a honey vase as her gift to dignitaries at the Pittsburgh Summit. In December, pastry chef Bill Yosses constructed the traditional White House gingerbread house with honey instead of refined sugar.

The prominence of the White House bees lends some glitz to the growing urban beekeeping movement, although there has been some grumbling that for most D.C. dwellers, urban beehives are in violation of local laws.